Here’s to some senior athletes who provided us with great moments the last four years

It is always fun to look back when a school year is over and reflect on the individuals and teams that made it a memorable run.

So just for fun here are athletes I’ll miss covering next year. Nothing against those not singled out here because I have enjoyed my interactions with all the coaches and athletes in the Inland Valley.

But there are some that have been so successful since their freshman year I have had more dealings with them then most. So here goes.

Damien High's Bryce Peters (#23), right, speeds down court with Rancho Cucamonga High's Daniel Embry (#40) in tow at Damien's La Verne, Calif. campus gym January 12, 2016. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb/San Gabriel Valley Tribune)

Bryce Peters, Damien basketball
He was a key player as a junior in helping the Spartans to a state championship but probably didn’t get the credit he deserved because of the more heralded seniors around him. This year he excelled in a starring role and it was nice to see him flourish in that role. He’s headed to Colorado State.

Rancho Cucamonga Kylie Miller is Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Volleyball Player of Year.

Kylie Miller, Rancho Cucamonga volleyball
She was a four-time first team All-Inland Valley selection and that’s an accolade very few can claim. There are few athlete more humble or soft-spoken but her talent did the talking. The Under Armour All-American is headed to UCLA.

Colony's Josh Thompson (#12) scrambles out of the pocket looking to pass against Kaiser during the first half of Friday's CIF-SS Central Division first round playoff game at Colony High School in Ontario, Ca., November 13, 2015. (Photo by John Valenzuela/ Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)

Josh Thompson, Colony football
Grabbed the starting job early his sophomore year and never gave it up, leading Titans to a CIF title as a junior. Oh, and he did that in the title game after missing a month with a separated shoulder. He is about as tough as they come. I will never forget a Pomona player grabbing him by the face mask with such ferocity it turned the helmet all the way around. He got up without skipping a beat and was ready for the next play. He’s headed to Dixie State.

 

Upland High School’s Jacob Beltran had a seizure on Wednesday and a 10-hour surgery to resolve a vein issue. He was selected the SoCal Prep Legends Most Inspirational Athlete this month,

Jacob Beltran, Upland baseball
How can you not root for a kid that had brain surgery and went from having to learn to walk again to returning to the playing field in seven months. We have all heard the tragic stories of athletes who collapsed on the playing field and didn’t make it. So it is nice to have a happy ending. He’s probably headed to a community college, since he missed is entire junior season.

Michael Dean

Mikey Dean, Chaffey football/track
Who doesn’t love Mikey Dean? Guys that small shouldn’t be able to do what he does both on the football field and the track. Rushing for a ton of yardage is one thing. But taking up a new track event – long jump – this year and then placing at state in California which has so many elite athletes. Well, that pretty much says it all. He is headed to Idaho State where he’ll compete in both sports.

 

Chino Hills’ Lonzo Ball (#2), drives to the basket against Immanuel High School during the frist half of Friday’s CIF-SS Open Division State Playoff game at Chin Hills High Schoolin Chino Hills , Ca, Friday, March 11, 2016. (Photo by John Valenzuela/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)

Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills basketball
There isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said. I have been covering high school sports for 30 or so years (yes I am aging myself) but I have never enjoyed watching a player or a team as much as I did the Ball and the Huskies. The last thing I remember close was seeing Deion Sanders in high school in my Florida tenure. I definitely don’t remember the last time i saw an athlete with such a complete skill set at such a young age. Can’t wait to see Lonzo doing his thing at Pauley Pavilion for the UCLA Bruins.

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Rancho Cucamonga’s Kylie Miller takes part in All-American game

Rancho Cucamonga High School senior setter Kylie Miller competed in the Under-Armor All-American game on Friday in Nebraska.

The event was televised today by CBS Sports Network.

Miller, who has signed with UCLA, was the starting setter for the West which lost to the East 3-0.

The MVP for the winning East was Overland Park, Kan. native Regean Pittman who has signed with Minnesota. Kentucky native Morgan Hentz, who has signed with Stanford, was the MVP for the West.

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Rancho Cucamonga’s Kylie Miller nets All-American honor

Rancho Cucamonga High School senior volleyball standout Kylie Miller has landed the first of what is sure to be many All-American honors when she was lauded a first-team selection by Under Armour.

Miller, a 5-foot-11 setter, was one of just 24 players nationwide chosen to the first team.

“It’s a  nice honor. I don’t think it has really sunk in yet because I’m so focused on our team in the playoffs,” she said. “It’s nice to be mentioned along with so many other great players.”

Miller, who has committed to UCLA, has 236 kills and is hitting at a whopping 54% percent clip for the Cougars (26-6), who are ranked first in Division 1A. She also has 50 aces, 38 blocks, 178 digs and 267 assists.

The approximately 600 nominations are a record number for the program, resulting in a combined 150 All-Americans and Honorable Mention All-Americans. Many already committed to play collegiate volleyball at some of the top schools in the country.

Miller and all the other players named to the the first team will be invited to play in the Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition which will be held at the CenturyLink Center on Dec. 18 in conjunction with the 2015 AVCA Annual Convention.

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Rancho Cucamonga’s Kylie Miller reaches 1,000 career kills

  

On her 17th birthday, UCLA commit and Rancho Cucamonga volleyball player Kylie Miller reached the 1,000 career kills milestone in the game against Citrus Valley.

“I thought it would be a great memory (to reach the milestone on her birthday),” she said. “It wasn’t my focus today but it was great to know that it happened. I think my teammates were more aware of what was happening than I was.”

Miller was informed by the coaching staff this week that the milestone was insight.

She entered the game with 991 career kills and surpassed the milestone with a 20-kill performance against the Blackhawks, defeating the team in three.

“We didn’t play our best game but we pulled through and got the win,” Miller said.

The Cougars have expectations going forward this season with the overall goal of winning CIF.

 “I am very excited about my team this year. We all have great chemistry on and off the court,” Miller explained. “We have high expectations for ourselves as we head into league play. Our goal this season is to win CIF and we are all very motivated to reach our goal.”

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Rancho Cucamonga wins volleyball tournament

The Rancho Cucamonga volleyball team is off to a 7-0 start, thanks to six wins and a championship at last weekend’s Inland Empire Classic.

The Cougars defeated perennial CIF title contender Corona Santiago in the championship game 2-1 (21-25, 25-18, 15-9). That should bode well for the Cougars title hopes this season to beat that caliber of a team.

The other five wins in the event were all by 2-0 scores.

Senior outside hitter Kylie Miller was named tournament MVP. Sophomore middle blocker Karson Bacon and junior hitter Bria Beale earned All-Tournament honors.

Rancho will be at home again tonight against Temecula Chaparral.

 

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Rancho Cucamonga volleyball looks to regain league title

Kylie Miller unleashes a shot in match last year against Los Osos.

Last year Chino Hills came into the Baseline and swiped away the league title the Cougars had won the previous year.

Well it’s a new season and Rancho Cucamonga looks like it is poised to that that crown back, with Chino Hills and St. Lucy’s looking like the most formidable foes.

Coach Aaron Flores is back at the helm after a year away in which he served a an assistant at Division I UC Irvine.

Senior Kylie Miller, who committed to UCLA as a sophomore, will lead the way. The most versatile player in the Inland Valley tallied 288 kills, 225 digs, 71 service aces and 27 total blocks. She divided time between and setting but this year will be used as an outside hitter with junior Mary Bagshaw, who transferred from Bonita last year assuming setting duties full time.

“This is going to be a great year for her,” Flores said. “Playing just hitter will also allow her to focus more on defense and passing which is a little tougher when you’re setting.”

The other reason for such optimism is the cast of players around Miller. Last year Karson Bacon burst on the scene as a freshman and notched 147 kills and a team-high 43 blocks. She has grown a bit and now stands 6-4 and Flores says she is drawing the same interest Miller did two years ago.

Other key returning players are junior outside hitters Sydney Culpepper and Bria Beale who combined for 395 kills last year. Last year Beale injured an ankle right before the playoffs which was a major blow to the team’s postseason hopes and the Cougars suffered a second round loss to Hart.

“This is the best team the school has ever had,” Flores says boldly. “We have a lot of potential and I am very excited.”

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Rancho Cucamonga’s Kylie Miller lauded by magazine

Rancho Cucamonga High School junior Kyle Miller was singled out by Volleyball Magazine as one of the top 25 underclassmen to watch for the coming season.

The Magazine also selected a Top 50 group of graduating seniors.
Miller, a 5-foot-11 setter nad outside hitter, committed to UCLA last year as a sophomore.

She is a three-time first-team All-Inland Valley selection, highlighted by a Player of the Year selection in 2013 as a sophomore.

 

 

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Another honor comes in for Rancho volleyball standout

ALL-AREA GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Rancho Cucamonga’s Kylie Miller leads the pack

The accolades continue to roll in for sophomore setter Kylie Miller of Rancho Cucamonga.

The versatile 5-foot-11 athlete who has already committed to UCLA has been named an underclassmen All-American by Maxpreps. She was one of just 20 sophomores chosen nationwide.

Miller propelled the Cougars to a 24-7 showing that included a Baseline League title. She tallied 716 assists, 230 kills, 92 aces and 232 digs, earning All-CIF first team honors.

 

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All-CIF selections out in girls volleyball

Here are the complete All-CIF teams:

Division 1-AA
Players of Year
– Crissy Jones, Los Alamitos, Frankie Shebby, Mater Dei
Coach of the Year – Dave Huber, Los Alamitos

Players – Haley Hobson, Corona del Mar; Tia Scambray, Dana Hills; Cadie Bates, Great Oak; Megan Kruidhof, Lakewood; Reni Meyer Whalley, Marymount; Skylar Caputo, Mira Costa, Taylor Wheatley, Orange Lutheran; Norene Iosia, Redondo Union; Rylee Hunt, Los Alamitos; Annie Hale, Los Alamitos; Jaden Pickell, Mater Dei.

Division 1-A
Player of Year
– Haley DeSales, LaSalle
Coach of Year – Adam Black, Harvard-Westlake

Players – Lindsay Ruddins, Aliso Niguel; Meghan Buzzerio, Chino Hills; Kelly Clues, El Dorado; Sofia Coffey, Flintridge Sacred Heart; Josephine Kremer, Harvard-Westlake; Nicole Elattrache, Harvard-Westlake; Caroline Knop, La Salle; Alyssa Taveras, La Salle; Sussanah Muno, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame; Sydney Bast, St. Lucy’s; Peyton Grahovac, Villa Park; Katherine Bloch, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Division 2-AA
Player of Year
– Chanel Hoffman, Corona Santiago
Coach of Year – Arlen Elvik, Corona Santiago

Players Aeryn Owens, Alta Loma; Ashten Smith-Gooden, Los Osos; Ashley Kaylor, Los Osos; Kalei Greeley, Martin Luther King; Shelby Livingston, Oaks Chr.; Grace Napolitano, Oaks Chr.; Kylie Miller, Rancho Cucamonga; Jessie Prichard, Santiago; Alexandra Kloehn, Santiago; Kori Kutsch, South Torrance; Sabryn Roberts, North Torrance; Claire Kiffer-Wright, South Pasadena.

Division 2-A
Player of Year
– Deanna Blaine, Whittier Christian
Coach of Year – Shawn Hunter, Whittier Christian

Players – Lexi Resch, Whittier Chr.; Claire Lenihan, Chadwick, Alina Smith, Cypress; Natalie Johnson, Mayfield; Olivia Mediano, Palm Springs; Madison Holl, Oxnard; Selby Schnobrich, Village Chr.; Kylee Wolfe, Whittier Chr.; Jennifer Washlee, Whittier Chr.; Aspen Potter, Yorba Linda; Kayla Chapman, Troy.

Division 3-AA
Player of Year
– Collette Franz, Viewpoint
Coach of Year – Frank Pontello, Viewpoint

Players – Lara Schwieyer, Viewpoint; Christina Cornelius, Viewpoint; TaeLeon Butler, Windward; Kyra Hill, Sierra Canyon; Cassidy Paperny, Culver City; Melissa Martinez, La Serna; Claire Kovensky, Citrus Valley; Ifeoma Ufondu, Quartz Hill; Lauren Purdon, Valley View; Rachel Furash, Viewpoint; Maria Difranco, Santa Monica.

Division 3-A
Player of Year
– Kekai Whitford, Sage Hill
Coach of Year – Dan Thomassen, Sage Hill

Players – Halland McKenna, Sage Hill; Maddy Abbott, Sage Hill; Kayla Scheel, Crean Lutheran; Katie Kyckelhahn, Crean Lutheran; Amanda Kirtley, Aquinas; Daisia LaBrie, La Sierra; Gabrielle Benk, St. Margaret’s; Itali Andrade, Western Chr.; Autumn Russell, Templeton; Alexandria Carlson, Santa Ynez, Amanda Reifer, Jurupa Valley.

Division 4-AA
Player of Year
– Heidi Dyer, Saddleback Valley Chr.
Coach of Year – Carmen Strattonm Saddleback Valley Chr.

Players
– Jaelyn Green, Saddleback Valley Chr.; Tristan Self, Hemet; Baylee Christian, Hemet; Riley Kelly, St Paul; Ayana Knowles, Don Lugo; Alyssa Cazares, Shadow Hills; Rayven Roman, Summit; Rachel DeArman, Colony; Nada Dragovic, Cantwell Sacred Heart; Jade Anderson, Fairmont Prep; Elyse Vega, West Valley; Gisela Govea, Fontana.

Division 4-A
Player of Year
– Grace Minchin, Pacifica Chr.
Coach of Year – Julie Bennett, Pacifica Chr.

Players – Maile Lane, Pacific Chr.; Clara Madsen, Laguna Blanca; Phoebe Madsen, Laguna Blanca; Olivia Leventhal, Crossroads; Cydney Pierce, Cate; Natalie Stephanus, Vistamar; Marielle O’Campo; St. Anthony; McKenna Clawson, Nordhoff; Catherine Collins, Paraclete; Kathy McKiernan, La Puente; Carolyn Urquieta, La Puente; Kaity Bailey, Villanova Prep.

Division 5-AA
Player of Year – Deana Seno, Pomona Catholic
Coach of Year- Randy Bohlman, Pomona Catholic

Players – Leah Miranda, Pomona Catholic; Justine Zepeda, Bishop Conaty-Loretto; Kelly Berger, Mammoth; Taylor Webster, Faith Baptist; Shauna Cyr, La Sierra; Madison Zelenski, Lancaster Desert Chr.; Kylie Brown, Santa Clarita Chr.; Elizabeth Shelton, Desert; Bethany Young, Coastal Chr.; Jeni Ecklund, Apple Valley Chr.; Olivia Hough, Hesperia Chr.; Lauren Peters, San Gabriel Mission.

Division 5-A
Player of Year
– Sami Whitaker, Riverside Chr.
Coach of Year – Joyceann Duncan, Riverside Chr.

Players – Megan Holmes, Riverside Chr.; Karina Muneton, West Shores; Kirtsen Mueller, Hillcrest Chr.; Julie Cameron, Nuview Bridge; Jannet Olvera, Orangewood Aca.; Michelle Mole, Excelsior Charter; Ana Tse, St. Monica; Emily Curtin, Lake Arrowhead Chr.; Vanessa Sanchez, Avalon; Graecyn Boyd, Rancho Chr.; Emily Cook, Palm Valley; Danielle Cox, Trona.

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Rancho Cucamonga’s Miller chooses to become a Bruin

Photo: Congrats to 17-National Setter Kylie Miller on her commitment to UCLA for the 2016 Class. Kylie will continue the line of great UCLA setters like Nellie Spicer and Holly McPeak.

Rancho Cucamonga volleyball standout Kyle Miller has made a verbal commitment to UCLA.

Ok, she’s just a sophomore. But that’s how highly sought after she was this season.

Miller totaled 716 assists, 230 kills, 92 aces and 30 blocks. While she was a jack-of-all trades for the Baseline League champion Cougars (24-7), Miller will be a setter in college.

She chose UCLA after narrowing her decision down to that school as well as Stanford and Washington, also national powers.

“It’s close to home and my family and friends and it will be a really good degree to have after college,” she said. “I’m just relieved to have made that decision. Now I can focus on school and club. I hung up the phone and just cried because it was such a relief.”

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